Wednesday, 16 November 2011

This quote was in my diary for this week, and it has really made me think.

‘They say such nice things about people at their funerals that it makes me sad to realise that I’m going to miss mine by just a few days’. Garrison Keillor, American Writer

We often speak of the wonderfulness of people when they die, but how often do we tell them this when they are alive? Indeed, how often do we tell ourselves how wonderful we are?

A funeral is a celebration of life, but do we have to wait until we die to celebrate our magnificence or our brilliance? We are all incredible Beings, and the sooner we realise this, the sooner we can embrace our full potential and live the life that we were born to live.

These are tumultuous times physically, spiritually, emotionally, financially and energetically. We are in a state of flux and change, and it can be hard to know whether we are coming, going or have got stuck somewhere in between.

We do have a choice though, we can resist and turn our backs on change, trying to fight it with every last breath; or we can embrace it and use it to transform and evolve. After a storm, it is the plants and trees that have bent with the wind that remain standing. Those that stand rigid, are often the ones lost. This is itself is a lesson of nature, but if we use this analogy and take it deeper within ourselves, it is important to know that it is possible to stand firm but in a fluid and giving way, rather than a tense and fear driven way.

Sometimes we have to surrender to the ebb and flow of life; this is not about being powerless and drifting along with the currents of life (although we all do that), but this is about resisting less and becoming more flexible and fluid.

Life is essentially what we make of it. The aim is not to arrive at the end of life in a pristine condition having lived a perfect life, for it is the scars and war wounds that make us individuals and give us character. We rarely know when to expect the end of life, but surely the aim is to make the most of each and every day, to live a life well lived, to enjoy each breath and to live as consciously as possible? Life then truly becomes a living celebration and is not held back until we pass!

The time to celebrate is now; the time to embrace life is now. Life is not a rehearsal, it is but a speck of time or the blink of an eye in Universal terms; but it is important none the less. We can make it significant, well-lived, rich and meaningful or we can simply keep our heads down waiting and hoping for something better to come along. It is clear that in order to become inspired and empowered, we need to realise that we need to take control and to live fully and consciously in the present moment, to grab life with both hands and to celebrate each success when it happens.

So, when was the last time that you gave yourself a pat on the back and said well done? When was the last time you honoured yourself and realised just how special you truly are?

We each have a choice, we can wait to be remembered as magnificent, or we can become a living representation of it now! The same can be said for those around us; it is time now to celebrate not denigrate, to honour not disrespect.

Say it now! Believe it, feel it and know that you are a truly special, wonderful individual! Now you can pay this forwards...

Friday, 11 November 2011

The 11th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the 11th year of the 21st century. How often can we have a moment like this is our lifetimes?!

There is a great deal of focus and energy being placed on this moment in time; a great deal of hope and expectation. What does it represent? What does it mean? There are lots of theories and ideas bubbling around the globe, from portals opening to a shift in DNA. In essence though, perhaps the most significant focus of this day is to simply bring together like minded souls who collectively share a vision of hope, healing, love and evolution.

The more people that come together and unify, the more we can truly understand the nature of all of the cosmic shifts, twists and turns that we have witnessed and will continue to witness. Unity is one-ness, the Uni-verse is one-ness and the more we connect to, and live, this one-ness, the more we realise just how magnificent we truly are.

The nature of being human sees us define ourselves by the sum of our past; what happened before shapes us, moulds us and makes us whom we are today. We look back to spiritual knowledge and to the wisdom of the past to give the present (and the future) meaning and purpose; we seek a full awakening from our seemingly long dark nights of the soul.

Yet, can the past truly shape and define us? Have we not reached a point in our evolution where we need to define ourselves by the present moment? Can we always find an answer from the past? In some ways, of course we can, but if we are truly evolving now surely we need to stop looking backwards and start looking forwards!

In essence, it seems to be a time to stop seeking meaning from the outside world and to go within in order to find the answers and solutions to our lives. We may not have ‘all the answers’, but no one has, not on this earth. Yet, if we are to grow and evolve, isn’t a part of that making ‘mistakes’ and learning from them? Like a baby finding its feet; it will fall and bump, but after each fall comes not only a determination to try again but an evolving learning process to make the next attempt a step closer to its goal.

We are being re-born now, and it is time to have trust and faith in our own abilities to learn and to find our own ways forwards. This is not about isolation, but it is defining ourselves from within not without. Groups are a powerful way to manifest change and transformation, healing and love, but in order to find Truth, we need to go within our Selves and not define ourselves through the collective.

11.11.11.11.11 is a special moment, perhaps mainly because we decide it will be. This may sound twee or a little light-hearted, but it is not. At the end of the day, it is our intent that is the most important gift that we have. Intent and personal power are our guiding lights and are the forces in our lives that can transform, destroy and create. Imagine what we can do personally and collectively if we believe that we can. If we can make 11.11.11.11.11 special, then we can do anything!

Portals may open and our DNA may change, but perhaps the most significant things we can embrace is unity, self-awareness and the power of intent, for once we have these, then life can be truly wonderful...

Tuesday, 8 November 2011

The time has come to stop procrastinating, and to start doing! Thinking about life is NOT the same as living it. Life is not a rehearsal, it is the real deal! We may like to think that we are preparing ourselves for the ultimate Nirvana and enlightenment, and this may be true, but what matters most is the present moment. In this moment we are neither controlled by the past or the future, we are in the now and this is where we need to consciously remain if we are to live more mindfully.

Planning for some future that may or may not happen, or waiting for that perfect moment or opportunity to come up and tap you on the shoulder is a good way to fritter away energy and focus. It is disempowering and disenchanting at the very least.

If you take a moment, stop and spend some time pondering the following:

If today were your last day on Earth, would you want to be doing what you are doing now? Would you be happy that you have lived your life to the full? Would you feel that you have made the most of every second to live in bliss? Have you lived the best life that you can live? Have you at least stepped towards your dreams? Have you played it safe or taken a chance on happiness? Have you listened to your heart and given it the freedom to sing? Have you honoured your Self?

So many questions, but where are the answers? The fact is of course, that we can all sit and think about these questions, but there comes a time when thinking simply is not enough anymore. Thinking or even feeling can give us clarity and vision, but it cannot drive us forward; we have to do that ourselves.

Making a choice or a decision can be so hard. Our heads and our hearts are so often in conflict. Our hearts may call us toward one path or dream but our heads are more concerned with paying the bills, surviving and getting through each day. Yet, surely too much head stuff can clutter and overwhelm the heart and can prove just as disruptive as no thinking at all! Balance is the name of the game.

Easy peasy then. If only!

How do we move through the fear and the worry in order to connect with what truly makes our hearts sing? How can we move from a place of fear to a place of knowing, wisdom and confidence?

It seems to boil down to attitude and belief.

Firstly, is the belief that ‘I am worth it’, an intent so strong when we truly believe it, that it oozes from our auras and from every cell of our Being. This is a belief that never waivers; it is a knowing, a power.

Secondly is the belief that ‘I have the power’. Another intent; a simple one, but one that creates freedom and opportunity. it empowers, enlightens and inspires us to realise the magnificence of who we are.

Thirdly is the belief that ‘my thoughts shape my life’, this is more of a realisation, but an important one, for once we realise that we have the power to shape and transform our lives simply by through our attitude, things get considerably more interesting! This is not about getting lost in thought though, it is about having a clear focus and vision, and having clear and well-defined thoughts. We need to know ourselves and we need clarity; for if we do not know ourselves, our dreams or our goals, then how are we to manifest them?!

Finally is the belief that ‘I am wonderful, I am magnificent’. Somewhat harder to say with belief or conviction, but why? We are all magnificent and incredible, and it is time to celebrate that.

Drifting along in life, scrimping and scraping is a choice. We can see money, prosperity and wealth as something ‘always out of our reach’ or we can realise our own value and begin to transform our lives from the inside out. Through knowing that we are worth it, that we do have the power and by accepting that our thoughts do shape our lives, we can begin to take back the controls and re-connect to our Selves.

It is time to cut out the worry and the fear, for these attract more of the same. It is time now to celebrate what we do have, and to know that with belief and determination, we can make every day magnificent and blissful. We can look in the mirror and not feel empty, hollow or lacking; we can look in the mirror and know that we are living and have lived the best life possible.

Life is not about reaching the end destination in pristine condition, unscathed, and without scars. Out of suffering, strength emerges, and whilst many of us have suffered and struggled, it is important to realise that this is a part of life and we can either feel like a victim or accept what’s done is done, the past is in the past. What matters now is the present!

It is time to celebrate these scars, to know that this is what makes us incredible. We are the sum of all of our components, warts and all, and it is time to embrace our Selves fully, openly, honestly and with love.

Khalil Gibran: “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” (thanks Amanda!)

So, no more sitting on the fence waiting for something to happen, instead we need to have the courage and self-belief to step into the unknown, to let go of our fears and doubts, to believe and to realise that we have the power to make things happen. Life carries no guarantees, there is no ‘money back’ guarantee if things fall short of our hopes or expectations. We can suffer from buyers remorse or we can get up, dust ourselves off and get back on the horse once again.

Perhaps the most important thing to embrace is clarity. Without clarity we move along in a blur, in a haze of confusion and discombobulation. Yet clarity is quite hard to clarify, for we are human, and our hearts and our heads often have different agendas. Heart often strives for dreams and joy, the head seeks security and practicality.

The way to win this inner battle is to encourage the heart and the head to make peace, and to work together. Battles are exhausting, and what purpose do they serve other than to throw up more questions and turmoil? If we can get our heads and our hearts working together, then we can finally begin to de-clutter our lives, to focus and to embrace that all elusive clarity!

The key to life seems to be connected to inner harmony, if we are to re-awaken our souls’ full potential we need to step into the tranquillity within. This pool of tranquillity is where wisdom, belief, intent and abundance all reside. We now need to shift our perspective and realisation that this tranquillity is already within us and around us, we just have to use it now.

Take a breath and clear your mind. Connect to the power within you, let go of the clutter and allow your true purpose to be revealed. It is time for your heart to sing now; loudly and vibrantly from the roof tops with mirth, joy and bliss...

About Me

I am a writer and spiritual counsellor.I have spent my life offering inspiration, insight, personal empowerment, healing, life guidance and spiritual advice to others.
I am also disabled and living with numerous long-term health issues. Over time, I have found inspiration from my pain and ill-health and this is reflected in my writing.
I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (Hypermobility Type), PoTS, CRPS and Fibromyalgia to name but a few. However I am not my conditions!